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A different drummer: Agent ordered to pay band $4 million in restitution
A Little Rock travel agent was ordered to pay $4 million in restitution and penalties after failing to deliver a trip to Hawaii to two Arkansas marching bands.
Ope Saaga, who operated Performing Hawaii Tours, was charged with violating the state’s Deceptive Trade Practice Act by not providing the travel services paid for by the Fort Smith Southside High School and Spirit of Arkansas marching bands.
Saaga accepted $262,500 from the Southside High School marching band and $134,480 from the Spirit of Arkansas band, which is comprised of high school honor students from across the state, for travel, lodging, and activities in Hawaii, the suit said.
Saaga never responded to the state’s lawsuit against him and was not present at Wednesday’s hearing, where the judge ordered him to pay back the money collected plus $3.86 million in civil penalties.
"Band members worked hard to raise enough money to pay for a trip to Hawaii, and this travel agent left them without the promised trip and without their money," Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said in a news release.
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